Performance-graded asphalt binder tests

This section summarises the tests required by ASTM 6373 (2007) or AASHTO M 320 (2010) for performance-graded bituminous binders, also known as Superpave tests (Asphalt Institute SP-1 2003). 

Performance-related specifications do not exist in European specifications. A position paper by Eurobitume has made proposals towards performance-related specification framework (Eurobitume 2012). 

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The specified properties per performance grade asphalt binders (bitumens) are given in Table 3.8. A similar table is also provided by ASTM D 6373 (2007), which incorporates practice D 6816 (2011) for determining the critical low cracking temperature using a combination of test method D 6648 (2008) and test method D 6723 (2012) test procedures. According to ASTM D 6373 (2007), if no table is specified, the default is Table 3.8. 

Asphalt Institute SP-1.2003. Superpave Performance Graded Asphalt, Binder Specification and Testing, 3rd Edition. Lexington, KY Asphalt Institute. 

The rotational viscometer test is specified by ASTM D 6373 (2007) as a standard test for performance-graded asphalt binders and is carried out at 135°C. 

The Superpave asphalt mix design system includes the performance grade (PG) asphalt binder specification. The Superpave asphalt binder tests try to determine physical properties that can be directly related to field performance in terms of ratting, fatigue cracking and low temperature cracking. Superpave characterizes asphalt at the actual pavement temperatures it will experience, and at the periods of time when distresses are most likely to occur. A part of the Superpave binder specification is... 

Product 7A with a pen. 40/50 pure asphalt base and a granulometry identical to that of 7 S/A and 9 S/A does not reach the average performance level of the S/A products. Product 6A with a pen. 40/50 asphalt base, although using crushed material only, produces results scarcely better than the corresponding semi-crushed S/A grades. The S/A semi-crushed formulations give results which meet the standard defined by Setra for surface layers. These test results justify the use of S/A binders... 

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